Sheet cutting and transporting appliance



I 192 Feb 15 7 A. J. EVERS SHEET CUTTING AND TRANSPORTING APPLIANCE 6 Sheets-Sheet .Filed Feb. 28, 1924 Feb. 15, 1927.

1 A. J. EVERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb 28 1924 Feb.

. 1,617,381 A. J. EVERS SHBET CUTTING AND TRANSPORTING APPLlfANCE File dFeb. 28/1924 6 Shgets-Sheet s] Y 1,617,381 1 b 1927' A. J. EVERS SHEET CUTTING AND TRANSPORTING APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 28, 24 GSheets-Sheet 'e Patented F eb. 15, 1927.

- UNITED "STATE PATENT F CE.

ARTHUR mavens, OF C CAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeN'oR To v Rs-sAUvAeE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, A' CORPORATION OF ILLINOIs.

sIIEET CUTTING AND TRANsronTINe APPLIANCE.

Application filed February 28, 1924, Serial No. 695,844.

The present invention relates to improved and novel means for transporting or cutting and transporting sheetsof material by suction means particularly sheets of more or less porous material, such as cloth.

The invention is especially, but not re- 'strictedly, adapted for satisfactory and economical employment in the cutting of cloth inpattern sections and conveying the severed parts and stacking them in "corresponding piles.

One aim of the invention is" the provision of a machine of this character which is relatively simple in structure, which is comparatively economical to produce, which is unlikely to become damaged or injured in service, and which performs its functions effectively and efiiciently.

To the accomplishment of these and other desirable objects, the preferred embodiment of the invention presented in the accompanying drawings has been developed,this appliance being depicted in the several views of the drawings which like reference characters have been used to denote the same parts of the mechanism. g

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved cloth cutting and conveying machine; I

Figure 2 is a plan View of the same; Figure 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevation of the machine; I

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section on line 44 ofFigure 1 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section on an enlarged scale on line 5-5 of Figure 1'; V

' Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing the valve-mechanism'and associated and adjacent parts; 7

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the upper or movable cutter; 7

Figures 8 and 9 show parts of the suction conveyor, Figure 8 being a partial'vertical cross-section and Figure 9 being a fragmentary bottom plan view on an enlarged l 4 Figure 10 shows the cam mechanism'for raising and lowering the tracks or rails on which the suction carriage'reciprocates; and

Figure 11 illustrates the cloth gripping and feeding structure."

Referring to these drawings, it will be" p perceived thittl}? ppl ance includes 5 suit:

ably-shaped main-frame 21 having ateach side an upstanding, guiding part 22,722 which define the vertical movementsor reciprocations' of an upper, hollow, reenforced blade or cutter support 23 fitted with. guideblocks 24, 24 on opposite sides-of and cooperating with the stationary, vertical guides 22, 22. 1 I

At one end,the1nain frame is supplied with an appropriately-journa'led, pulley and belt driven, drive-shaft 25 equipped at one end with a pinion 26 in mesh with a large gear'27-mounted to revolve on a stationary cross-shaft 28 supported in bearings in the main-frame, this gear meshing with a like gear 29 on a second, correspond ng, .fixed cross-shaft 31."

Internallyeach gear 27 and 29 has a cam I 32 on its hub and these tWo interfitted elements are mounted on the hub 33 of an eccentric 34 revolubly mounted on-the end or protruding part of the shaft and held against displacement by a=retainer-plate or cap ,35, the three members, gear, cam-and ec-v centric being rigidly secured together by a. pin 36.

Each such eccentric has an'eccentric-link 37 equipped with an aperture or bearing receiving the eccentric and having rocking connection' with a shaft 38, extended through the cutter-support 23, through an interposed bushing'or sleeve 39. v

At the opposite side of the machine, the two shafts 28 and 31have similar intermeshing large gears 41 and 42'supplied with Corresponding eccentrics 43, cooperating with like eccentric links 44 rockingly mounted on the opposite ends of the two shafts 38, the gear 41 meshing with a drivepinion 45 on the other end of shaft v25.

Thus it will be seen that the rotation of the gears and the four eccentrics effects the verticalreciprocation of the'member 23.

on its under side or face this perpendicul arly-slidable element 23 carries a plurality of cutter or knife blades46 arranged in any desired form 'or' pattern betweenspacing and holdin'g'blocks 47 in much the same manner in which rule lines are held in operative position in theeform of aprintingpress.

These blades, by coaction with a flat metal late .48 on the top of, the reenforced or ribbed bed or table portion of the mainframe, are adapted to cut the strip of cloth 49 or sheetof other material-merely by the descent and severing action of the blades or knives 46, all as will be readily understood.

The suction conveyer or transporting apphance, including its operating mechanlsm, for carrying away these cut cloth sections and depositing them in the same relation on a reception table, so that pieces of the same kind and shape willbe piled'one' on top of another in succession, comprises the followingspecified cooperating instrumentalities.

. Two rails or tracks 51 and 52,0ne at each side: of the machine, are employed, each be ing supportedby. three, spaced, rock-arms 53, 5'4; and 55 constituting a parallel motion the mainrframe and each remaining arm 55' is fixedly mounted on a .suitably-journalled cross-shaft 58 supplied at one end with another arm 59 (Figures 2, 5 andlO) equipped with an antifriction roller61 bearing on the edge of a cam 62 interposed between and pinned to the gear tlfand the associated eccentric 43'. p

It willbe clear, therefore, that the regular rotation: of gear 41 brings about a like revolution of cam 62 and this in turn rocks the pair of arms '55 causing the raising and loweringv of the two, companion, spaced railsor tracks.

Thecarriage slidable on these tracks or rails comprises a plurality of horizontal,

, atmospheric pressure, such as. an ordinary-- hollow, parallel, s'heot-inetalmembers 63 spaced apart slightly and. each having a number ofstaggered holes on. apertures 64: through its bottom wall.

The ends ofthese suction+chamber neuis benstowardthe cutting appliance are closed by blocks 65 and are also connected to a supporting cross-bar 66 equipped at its opposite ends with grooved wheels or rollers 67. restingon and adapted to roll on the top.

faces of the two rails.

At their other ends all of these perforated suction-members are connected to and. com.- municate-with the interior of a transverselydisposed manifold 68 likewise fitted with grooved rollers 69 at its opposite. ends adap.t.-.v ed to travel on the rails, such manifold by a; plurality of pipes orcond-uits 7]. connecting with any; suitablesource of suction. or sub;

suction or vacuum pump.

To reciprocate th s suction co'nveyen carriage, the; following: 1 co-actin-g mechanical elemen -ere u d;

A slotted, slidable member 72 (Figures 3 i and 4) having rack-teeth along: the bottom margin of the slot and guided in its horizontal reciprocationsby upper and lower blocks 7 3 and 74 secured to the side of the main-frame accommodates in its aperture or slot the pinion end portion 75 of a crosssh'a'ft 7 6 revoluble in bearings 77 and 78 of the main-frame, with the pinion teeth in mesh with those of the rack.

This rack at its opposite terminal portions' has two anti-friction rollers79'and 81 (Figure 3), the former bearing on the edge of cam 32, heretofore mentioned, and the latter coacting with the edge of another somewhat-differently shaped cam 82 associated and revoluble with gear 291 in the same manner that cam 32 is rotated "by its gear. 271 i One of these cams pushes the rack inone direction and the other cam forces it in the opposite direction whereby through, the small gear or pinion 75 shaft 76' is oscillated.

'Two gears 83 and 845 keyed to shaft" 76 are in mesh with two inverted racks 85 and 86 slidingly mounted by guides 87' on the opposite sides of the main-frame, the extreme untoothed end :of each such rack-bar (Figure 6) having 'securedthereto a' vertically slotted bracket 88, the slot 89 of which accommodates a guiding lug 91 on the corresponding end .ofthe manifold meme ber 68, whereby the carriage may be slid on the tracks without interference with its vertical movements heretofore specified.

' Internally. themanifold has an oscillatory valve 92 the shaft 98. of which outside of the manifold is supplied with a collar 94 fitted with an outstaifiding pin or lug 95, the collar having a rod-96 hinged thereto at 97 and slidingly extending through an aperture ina swivelle'd block 98 with a coil e2- pansion spring encirclingthe rod bearing at its opposite. ends against the block and against,v ashoulder-on'thc rod, whereby to give the valve'a snap spring action, by the spring passing bydead center as is well understood. r v

To operate the valve, an upstanding bar 101. (Figure 6) is mounted on the part 57 in such position that when the suction conveyeris beneath the raised cutters or blades and is lowered to engage the severed cloth patterns orsections, the pin will engage theupper end ofthe stationary element 101 cause the opening of the valve and the application of the suction internally to the plurality of perforated hollow members constituting the suction portion of the conveyor.

Similarly, the end of-rack-har 51issupplied with an'upright post 102 (Figure 6) which the samepinxor lug 95, engages when the conveyor is lowered overthe receiving table, whereby theralveisagain losed hn terminating the. sactienrin-i e conveyor and smear permitting the transported severed sheet-s or pieces snap on the table.- I

"When the-suction appliance descends on tothe cut sections of the enema be picked up, the right hand endportioh ot-such' sub? atmospheric device overlaps'the advance eiitl of the uncut supply of the cioth which leads from a supply iiol-l, not shown; and "as the ceiiveyor travelsto thel elz't it pulls along the cloth supply with it beneath the cutting blades whichar'e then elevated inoperative position; L 1 This clotlizite'eding action isfacilitated' or aided by grippers which mechanically grasp the'cloth and feed it along, but in the present instance .the'se grippers do not engage the frontxor 'advaiice portion of the supply but coact iviththecloth at a point 'back'theren-E so that the strain of 'u nl'olling" the. supply ire-in the "stock roll will not be imposed on, thfeQtraveling suctionappliance. v

As is perhaps more fully shown in Figures 1 and 11, thiscloth gripping and fee'dingde vice includes a cross-bar 111 located beneath the cloth and secured at its'opposite ends biac'l'iets 112 tot-he two rack-bars 85 and 86 scum it participates in their back ward and forward movements.-

Above uch c os s-barana.iasumed on a suu'iaingbraekets113 opposite sides of t is iiizhifie Ofi brackets 1 12 I employ 'vijti easy nimble rcesear zip-erased 1 bar"- 111 geared i-ii its eeeipiseaebss by gene-- lugs 115611 the iiii iei faes'cf tlfidbieltt Both sides 6f the machine ate ztl-ilieiii "this" respect and consequently shoeing anti-as:

, tailed 'descriptioiiof. fine-side will states as a full understanding of. the

Each statute-bai- 1145 is supported from 1 above on the corresponding bracket 1'13 by'zitoggle 116 which when straightened forces thebafll dew-'11 and 'wliencollapsed or broken causes the elevation or rise of the bar.

Bar 114 carries any suitable number of clamping-plates 117 each supported beneath the element 114 on one or more stems 118 each extended upwardly through a hole in the part 114: andsupplied at its upper end with a nut or collar 119 limiting its descent, a coil spring 121 encircling the stern and pressing the plate down by bearing at its lower end against the top face of the plate and at its upper end engaging the end wall of a recess in bar 114 receiving such spring.

Thus when the toggles are straightened these one or more clamping-plates will grasp the cloth between itself or themselves, asthe' case may be, and the registering underlying plate 111. v 7

When the toggles are collapsed, the cloth will be free thus permitting this clamping mechanism to move to hold on the cloth.

The toggle operating mechanism includes a bracket 122 at each side of themachine position for a new suture-m in eira" 123 is re ister with 1 L p 2: g I:

the middle ot'the' toggle: collapse the latter at the proper'intithent'asshtiwii in Figure '11.

Ame-shown in Figure 1, 'aiiot'hiflpiioperly positioned pin Y o'rolug 123 is used to sung-lie an east toggle guy engagement with" its the c'ldth is advanced to t'lieciitters; that the utter ace-can evering the cloth beneath them into sections, that the cutters ascend, that the suction appliance simultaneously conveys'awa-y all of {the cut portions of the cloth and tie jos'itsthem in edirespondiag iles ass-maths clotlrfeeding mechanism is operated in proper timed i elation for cotrect coaction with the other partsof the mechainsm. i w 7 The purpose of spacing apart the apert n-ed dipe'rforated members through which the suction isappliedtothe cltithis to pre vent the sheet of the latter from becoming V wrinkled 01- 'cim npi by a, lai-ge'body of inflowing air adjacent to the suction elements assuming that'tliey were o:t -large 'area. By subdividing the air which must necessarily ee t me he we use 'd rf s't ap"licati'on of amuqasten tendency at the "cldt'h' Becca-e 'disturbd'cancl wrinkled or' trti-in ld from the: ed es er the suction 'iiirii'bers is ovei- M on same; If diie liige' tired suction iii-em: b'ei eel-y stressed; theshet of cloth would probably not lie flat and smooth agi-instpi-ts under, surface when the suction was applied,

due currents" around the 'e'ei rl ty efr uch memb ia E s b vision ofthe air which passes inwardly alititit the stttftion cdiivdydf and through the cloth itself is believed to be a new feature in structures of this'character.

The invention is not limited and restricted to the precise and exact details of structure but is susceptible of a variety of embodiments and many minor mechanicalchanges may be made in the structure shown and described without departure from the invention and without the sacrifice of any of its substantial benefits and advantages.

I claim:

'1. In an appliance of the character described, the combination of a suction 0011- 1 veyor constructed to transport a sheet, in flat condition, means to operate said conveyor, and means to prevent distortion of the sheet to be transported by the conveyor when the suction of the latter is applied to such sheet.

2. In an appliance of the character described, the combination of a suction conveyor constructed to transport a substan-" tially porous flexible sheet in fiat condition, means to operate said conveyor, and means to prevent wrinkling of the sheet to be transported by the conveyor when the suction of said conveyor, and means to control the suc- I tion applied to said bodies. I a

4:. In an appliance of the character described, the combination of a conveyor comprising means to apply suction to the body to be conveyed over a plurality of spaced areas, and means to admit air to said body between said areas to prevent distortion of the body to be transported by the conveyor when the suction is applied, and means tooperate said conveyor. v

5. In an appliance of the character described, the combination of means to cut a sheet of material into parts, a suction-conveyor to transport a plurality of said out parts simultaneously and deliver them in their original relation to one another, and means to operate said conveyor. v

6. In an appliance of the character described, the combination of means to cut a sheet of material into parts,a suction-conveyor to transport a plurality of said out parts simultaneously and deliver them simultaneously in their original relations to one another, means to operate said conveyor, and means to advance another sheet section after the removal of the out parts for subsequent like severance and transportation of .its parts.

scribed, 'thecombination of means to out a sheet of porous material into a plurallty of parts, a suction-conveyor to simultaneously 7. In an application of the character de r transport-said parts and deposit them si 'mult-aneously in their original relations to one another, means to operate said conveyor, means to prevent wrinkling of the porous parts of the material to be transported by the conveyor when the suction of the latter is applied thereto, and means to advance another sheet section after the removal of the out parts for subsequent like severance and transportation 01" its parts.

8. In an appliance of the character described, the combination of means tocut a sheet ot substantially porous material into a plurality of parts, a conveyorcomprising means to apply suction to the severed parts of the sheet to be conveyed over a plurality of spaced areas and to admit air to said parts between said areas, means to operate said conveyor to transport the cut sections of the material and deliver them in their original relations to one another, and means to advance another sheet section after the removal of the out parts for subsequent like severance and transportation.

9. In an appliance of the character described, the combination of means to cut a sheet of substantially porous material into, a plurality of mating parts, a suction-conveyor comprising a plurality of spaced apertured hollow bodies with suction applied to their interiors and air admitted between said bodies, means to move said conveyor to transport the plurality of out parts of the sheet In witness whereof I have hereunto set my v hand and seal.

ARTHUR J. EVERS. [1,. s]; 

